08-27-2012, 10:36 PM
That's a great opportunity for you to get your raw blanks. If I were you, I'd look through them and pick out the best a bring them home and after cleaning them up, store them out of the weather and further rusting.
You mentioned not having a forge. You could of course build a professional one, but I have learned that a very cheap simple one will do the job quite adequately. I have an old "chimenia" that I put a hole in the bottom for a lenth of steel pipe and used an old hair dryer to blow air into the coals. It heated up the steel beautifully and I was able to pound out the shape I needed.
I wish I could visit Scotland, the home of many of my ancestors. I lived in London for eight months up until three years ago and have relatives and friends up there in Scotland, but never got to visit. I wish I had taken the time. I can trace my ancestory back to James IV. But I'm also half Italian, so I guess there is a good chance my ancient ancestors were on opposite sides during the days of Rome.
Keep up the good work and keep in touch with your progress.
You mentioned not having a forge. You could of course build a professional one, but I have learned that a very cheap simple one will do the job quite adequately. I have an old "chimenia" that I put a hole in the bottom for a lenth of steel pipe and used an old hair dryer to blow air into the coals. It heated up the steel beautifully and I was able to pound out the shape I needed.
I wish I could visit Scotland, the home of many of my ancestors. I lived in London for eight months up until three years ago and have relatives and friends up there in Scotland, but never got to visit. I wish I had taken the time. I can trace my ancestory back to James IV. But I'm also half Italian, so I guess there is a good chance my ancient ancestors were on opposite sides during the days of Rome.
Keep up the good work and keep in touch with your progress.
Manius Acilius Italicus
